Improvement in vacuum-pans for evaporating



'ArnNr Ormes.

JOHN A. SOUTHMAYD, OF JERSEY CITY, NEV JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN VACUUM-FANS FOR EVAPORATING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,65l, dated March 11, ltfi.

To all whom t liv/ay concern,.-

Be known that I, JOHN A. SOUTHMAYD, of Jersey City, in the' county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Evaporators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the saine, reference being had therein to the drawings which accompany this specication and make part of the saine.

The nature of my invention consists, iirst, in constructing and arranging tightevaporating-pans so as to carry off all the condensed vapor, effectually preventing the return thereof to the body ofthe liquor from which it has exuded; secondly, in a means of an increase of surface for evaporating and of regulating the same; thirdly7 in such a construction as will admit of the employment of a high or low temperature, .as may be desired, and, lastly, in an improved condenser and exhaustpump, which assists in removing the carbonic and other gases and the air that tend to neutralize a vacuum.

In thev drawings, Figure l represents a vacnum-pan adapted to the evaporatiiig required iii the process of refining sugar; Fig. 2, the condenser and exhaust-pump shown in section Fig. 3, one of the leaves of the plunger used to increase the evaporating-s'urface; Fig. 4, the perforated plate of the condenser, and Fig. 5 is part of a double-jacket pan in section.

The same letters designate the same parts in each figure.

An air-tight outer case, in'which a vacuum can be formed, is shown at A, with a hole broken through it to show the separate pan B in its inside, and through a rent in theside of t'he pan B can be seen the plunger G with its leaves D. The exhaust from the inside of the case Ais at the bottom, through the pipe E to the condenser E and the pump G.

In all evaporatiiig-pans iii a vacuum which have a connection with the outer case the condensed vapor which accumulates in the inside of necessity drops back into the liquor inthe pan, and has to be vaporized again and again. By an entire disconnection of the inner and the outer pans, A and B, except at the bottom, through which the charge is withdrawn, and necessary supports to keep the inner pan equidistant from the outer, the vapor which coiideiises in the arched top and on the sides of the caseA runs down outside of the pan B, and flows freely through the pipe E to the condenser E and into the pump G, and thus of course effects a saving of both the time and fuel needed to create vapor from the same liquor' repeatedly. rlhe inner pan, B, is con structed, in the manner termed technically double-jacketed-that is, a space, g, between the outer and inner surface of the pan is provided for admitting steam or water, as required, or both together when operating at 10W temperatures as desired. (See Fig. 5.) By the detachmentor" the inner pan, B, from the outer case, A, the temperature. outside the pan is higher than that of the liquor in the pan, and therefore there must beless loss of heat by radiation than when the inner pan, B, has its outer surface in contact with the air in the ordinary manner.

It will be seen that the two advantagesfirst, that of preventing repeated evaporatioiis of a portion of the liquid, and, secondly, that of decreasing loss of heat by outer radiationwill be obtained whether single or double inner pans be used.

For the presentation of an increased amount ,4 I

of surface to facilitate evaporation, the plunf ger C is introduced into the vacuuin-pan This plunger consists of a plate or a grating,l if so chosen, corresponding in form with the eirciilar, oblong, or square forni of the pan B, to which is attached a series of plates or leaves, D, and Fig. 3, with a space between each. This plunger is secured to the rod I. The rod working in the packing or stuffing box J is connected to the rod K and crank L, by which a perpendicular inotionis communicated to the plunger, alternately dipping and withdrawing the leaves or plates D, exposing that which adheres to their surfaces to the action ofthe vacuum-pump G.

By making the crank Lv adjustable the depth lof dip can be regulated, and by use of a cone of pulleys the speed can be regula-ted, and the motion of the plunger can be suspended when necessary soto do. The leaves may be either plates or wire-netting, as deemed best.

By the detachment of the outer pan, A, and

inner pan, B, the vacuunrpump has the ad-l vantage of drawing from below, so that all inner coudeiisation is with ease extracted, and, as the water never fills the exhaust-pipe E,

steam, gases, and air are also drawn through it by the action of the vacuum-pump G.

To insure the evacuation of the carbonio and other gases and the expulsion thereof, with'the air that always accumulates more or less in vacuum-pans, and which materially decreases the vacuum when suffered to remain, an additional pipe, a, with an easyoperating valve, b., is provided, so that the air and gases may pass into the pump above the water and be ejected before or with the water through the valve c and pipe d of the pump G by the downstroke of the piston e. The exhaustpipe d of the pump G is bent upward, so that backwater insures the valve c being air-tight. rIhe condenser F, interposed between the pan and the pump, receives the condensed vapors on the perforated plate f, (or Fig. 4.) This plate, not covering the entire area of the condenser, thereby affords a free passage of the steam or vapor to the pipe 71 `and valve@ and the pump G. The condensed 2. Evaporating-pans constructed and arranged in the 'manner and for the purpose hereinabove set forth.

3. The condenser and pump, constructed in the manner described, in combination with pans used for evaporating purposes.

JOHN A. SOUTHMAYD.

Witnesses:

W. H. GooDING, DANIEL CRoNIN. 

